Calgarians have already been bilked out of thousands of dollars in fake job postings and there’s concern – as people get more desperate to pay bills – that number will continue to rise.
Police say fraudsters are targeting people in vulnerable situations.
Rachael Baker, for example, is currently receiving chemotherapy.
She’s off work and thought being a secret shopper would give her both flexibility and the opportunity to make some money.
Baker said she was hired by Enigma Evaluators as a secret shopper.
At first, they asked her to scope out a Walmart in Cochrane. But she said it didn’t take long before she was asked to purchase reloadable VISA cards.
Baker said, in two weeks, she had gone on seven different assignments and was taken for $3,500.
She said the company is no longer returning her calls.
“I feel pretty stupid and embarrassed,” Baker said. “That’s how I feel to start with. And I’m annoyed that they still get to stay in business and that there’s no way to shut them down.”
Enigma Evaluators declined to comment to Global News and instead, provided an email address to contact.
That address, along with others on their site, bounced back.
Since November, Calgary police have received more than 90 calls about various employment scams in which victims have lost more than $150,000.
The recent increase in the unemployment rate has police warning job seekers to be careful.
“Employers will never ever pay you in advance for work you haven’t done. So if that’s an offer that happens, really check it out. Meet face-to-face with the employer when you can,” Staff Sgt. Kristie Verheul, with the Calgary Police Economic Crimes Unit, said.
Since January, police have also had reports of another employment scam involving bitcoins. That site has been shut down.
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